In Saskatchewan, between 1995 and 2004, 1058 children under the age of 19 were hospitalized with cycling injuries. 1 out of every 3 of these children suffered a head injury. (Saskatchewan Health, 2007)
Children aged 10 to 19 have the highest rate of hospitalization due to cycling-related head injuries and other injuries compared to all other age groups. (Saskatchewan Health, 2007)
Children under the age of 19 accounted for over half (63%) of all cycling-related hospitalizations in Saskatchewan between 1995 and 2004. (Saskatchewan Health, 2007)
4 out of 5 cycling-related deaths in Saskatchewan are associated with head injuries. (Saskatchewan Health, 2007)
A total of 8 children in Saskatchewan under the age of 20 died between 1995 and 2004 due to cycling injuries. (Saskatchewan Health, 2007)
Almost half (44%) of all cycling-related deaths were to children under 20 years of age in Saskatchewan between 1995 and 2004. (Saskatchewan Health, 2007)
In 2009, Saskatchewan was rated poor on bicycle helmet legislation. (Canadian Paediatric Society, 2009)
According to the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS), 11.4 million Canadians over the age of 12 cycle and 46% of them said they have never worn a helmet. (Canadian Community Health Survey, 2009)
In 2009 in Canada, 30.6% of cyclists between the age of 12 and 19 wore a helmet when cycling. In Saskatchewan, only 17% of cyclists between the age of 12 and 19 wore a helmet when cycling. (Canadian Community Health Survey, 2009)
Cyclists between the age of 12 and 19 in Saskatchewan are the least likely to wear a bicycle helmet out of all age groups. (Canadian Community Health Survey, 2009)
In 2009, 37% of Canadians always wore a bicycle helmet when cycling. Four provinces in Canada have bicycle helmet legislation for all ages and helmet use rates in these provinces are above the national average. Saskatchewan has no bicycle helmet legislation and helmet use rates are well-below the national average with only 22% of people always wearing a helmet when they cycle. (Canadian Community Health Survey, 2009)
Helmet use reduces the risk of head injury and brain injury by up to 85%. (Thompson DC, Rivara F, Thompson R, 2009)
Cycling-related incidents were the leading cause of summer sport and recreation-related injuries in Canada, accounting for 43% of major trauma admissions in 2004-2005 (Canadian Institute for Health Information, 2007).
References
Canadian Institute for Health Information, National Trauma Registry Analysis in Brief: ATV Injury Hospitalizations in Canada, 2004-2005, (Toronto: CIHI, 2007).
Statistics Canada, Health Profile (2010). Retrieved from
http://cansim2.statcan.gc.ca/cgi-win/cnsmcgi.pgm?
Lang=E&ArrayId=01050501&Array_Pick=1&Detail=1&ResultTemplate=CII/CII___
&RootDir=CII/&TblDetail=1&C2SUB=HEALTH
Saskatchewan Health, Population Health Branch (2007). An epidemiological analysis of hospitalizations of cyclists with head and other injuries in Saskatchewan, 1994/05 – 2003/04.
Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey. (2009). Retrieved from
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/100615/dq100615b-eng.htm
The Canadian Paediatric Society. (2009). Are We Doing Enough? A status report on Canadian public policy and child and youth health. Retrieved from
http://www.cps.ca/english/advocacy/statusreport.htm
Thompson D.C., Rivara F., Thompson R. (2009). Helmets for preventing head and facial injuries in bicyclists. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Art. No.: CD001855.
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD001855